The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-02-17
SHERMAN AND BLAIR.
Presidential Ticket that is Much Talked
About. .r. ...... ..e
(Ftom the Washington Republicar,)

| About. sr.. o.. o.. ..I
tFtom the Washington Republican,
The presidential ticket makers about
Washington arc talking q great deal OF
Sherman and Blair as the Republican
candidates for 1888. 1t is claimed that
the two Senators would form peculiarly
strong combination on account of the
variety of causes to which their promi-
nence Is due. A leading western Senator,
who would not allow his name to be
used in this connection, for obvious rea-
sons, spoke of the ticket with enthusi-
asm in conversation with n reporter.
"Sonator Sherman" said he, "has the
confidence of the business mon in every
section of the country in q greater de-
gree than any other man in public life.
us wise and conservative policy as Sec
retoiy OF the Treasury and his soundnoss
on all the important questions which
nave engaged the attention of Congress
IA IA t'le last twenty years mark him as an
TIIpSolutciy safe man to put in tho White
house even II he did not possess any
Drllilant qualities of mind. In one par
tlcular he IS unique Although West
ern man, and of course deeply Interested
III che progress OF his section and alive
TO 10 us peculiar interests, he is as well
iiked Dy tho great financial movers of
New York and the factory men of Mas
sachusctts as he is by the farming
element of the west. You will not find
that the Senator'S name is vorv genora1lf
lnudcd by the politicians on account Of
his personal popularity, for he does not
travel on his "magnetism, so to speak:
but go north, east, south or west and
you will hear people say: "Shcrman is o
safe man. The business interests of the
country can rely on him." This, it
seems to me, is the greatest praise that
could be bestowed on statesman. Per-
sonal magnetism, briliancy on the
stump, and solidness with boys are all
very well i'll their way, but business
men think more of sound principles,
conservatism, and long Legislative ex-
pcrlcncc. Senator Sherman is one of
the very few statesmen who have not, in
the course of long public career, gone
wrong on some important question
hence the widespread confidence he in
spires. He could certainly carry New
York, which is likely to be again the
IlVOtal State Ill 1855, and it is moro than
probable that Connecticut, Indiana and
New Jersey would go with him. The
Repubhcan campaign with Senator Sher-
man as the standard-bcarcr would be q
thoroughly aggressive one. The princi-
ples OF the Republican party have never
needed any defense, and with the Ohio
Senator on the ticket the candidate
would need no defense either. His
record ever since he entered politics is
pure, and there is nothing to hide or
explain. OF course there would neces-
, snrily be petty campaign lies, but they
would affect the Senator Just as the
throwing Of pebbles would affect the
! Washington monument.
Senator Blair would, l think, make
tho strongest kind of second in this
ticket. In the first place, he is from the
east Then his strength is of peculiar
kind which would swell the Republican
vote III doubtful quarters. His earnest
and consistent temperance record would
be worth thousands Of votes to the ticket
III Now York State alone where, among
temperance people, he is looked upon as
Il sort of apostle. No one doubts the
sincerity OF the man or attributes his
profession of temperance principles to q
desire for political gain. He is known
to be opposed to rum on principle, but
he is one Of those who believe that the
hquor traffic can be regulated better by
the Republican party than by any third
party organization. He does not see the
cXpedcncy of breaking up the grand old
party, which has taken the lead in every
species of progress and roform during
tho past thirty years, In order to advance
prohibitory plans of moro than doubtful
feasibility. With the conservative tenn
pcrancc people his namc is tower of
strength, and there are enough there in
the very quarters whore their votes are
needed, to swell the Republican vote to
such proportions aS would clear away all
doubts of success in 1888.
Another great element of strength in
the Senator is the favor with which the
South looks upon his efforts to promote
education in their section. am not one
of those who think that the South is
going to remain forever "solid.' I be-
hcvc that with man on our ticket who
would represent some idea that is popu-
lar i'll the South We could gain two or
perhaps three States next time. Vir-
gina, you know, is strongly in favor of
the Blair educational bill. 1t is likely to
go Republican any how in 1888, but
with Senator Blair on the ticket assur-
anco would be rendered doubly sure.
The same may be said Of Tennessee,
which, in national contest, is close
State. West Virginia would likely fall
in line also, since the Blair bill has moro
advocates there proportionatoly than in
any other State in the Union. So, all
things considered, / think the Republi-
cans could not name stronger ticket
two years hence than Sherman and
Blair.